Defense Undersecretary and PVAO Administrator Ernesto Carolina with the Baguio City officials led by Acting Mayor Faustino Olowan recognize the heroism of the World War II heroes during the 74th National Victory Day celebration at the Veterans Park in Baguio City on Tuesday, September 3. (RMC- PIA CAR)

TESDA at 25. TESDA - CAR Regional Director Manuel Wong and DTI Baguio - Benguet Director Freda Gawisan leads other partners from DOLE and Baguio PESO, in a Kapihan media forum, to promote the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

World class skilled Workers. PEZA Baguio deputy Zone Administrator Allan Datahan, in his keynote message at the TESDA - CAR 25 years anniversary awards and recognition program, affirms a continuing partnership with TESDA, not only in bringing work opportunity for Tech - Voc graduates inside the special economic zone but also in skills training to ensure that Filipino workforce will be globally competitive and responsive to the manpower needs of industries/investors. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

TESDA@25. Bartending students from the Baguio City School of Arts and Trade gives a demonstration on wine mixing during the TESDA - CAR led Kapihan media forum for the promotion of the scheduled activities for TESDA's 25th Anniversary that will be highlighted by the

Smoke Free Baguio. City Health Officials with partners and community stakeholders strengthens convergence for the attainment of the objectives of Baguio's Comprehensive Tobacco Control Ordinance through the first Smoke Free Baguio Convention at Venus Parkview Hotel, Tuesday. (Lito Dar/PIA CAR)

La Trinidad to offer investors tax holiday

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, August 14 (PIA) - - To attract local and foreign investors in the locality, the local government is offering tax and other forms of incentives to new and also to some qualified existing investors.

The local government which is undertaking information education campaign on investments intends to implement this year the investments and incentives code passed in 2017.

The purpose of the passage of the code is to attract new investors and sustain existing investments and encourage their expansion to create and maintain a business-friendly environment that will boost economy as it creates job opportunities, increase revenue and income, provide employment, and also a way to alleviate poverty.

Local Investment Officer designate Valred Olsim who also is the current Municipal Tourism Action Officer presented to entrepreneurs the concept, processes and details of the incentives for investors during the Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (MSME) Development Week held from August 10-16, 2019.

Incentives underscored in the code are categorized into fiscal and non-fiscal incentives for new and likewise existing investors that have plans to modernize, diversify or expand their business ventures.

Fiscal incentives include local business tax holiday for two to five years depending on the critera which they fall. They will also be exempted from permit fees except those that defray municipal services like garbage fees.

Non-fiscal incentives are general assistance which includes networking, identification of suppliers and partners, participation in business promotion events, assistance in the provision of general services including the provision of relevant data, assistance in site validation among others.

In encouraging investors, Olsim has this to say, “If money is idle, it does not accelerate economic growth but if invested it produces repercussions in the local economy as it creates livelihood and employs people.”

In order to be entitled to the incentives, they need to be accredited, said Olsim. The first step an investor needs to do is to register with the Local Investment Board (LIB) through the Investment Assistance and Promotions Office.

Requirements include a duly accomplished and notarized form; certified true copy of primary registration of the applicant such as those issued by the Department of Trade and Industry, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or the Cooperative Development Authority; if started operation, latest available comparative audited financial statements received by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the SEC for corporations; proof of proposed place of business; payment of P1,500.00 non-refundable fee except for micro enterprise; and publication of application in newspapers of general circulation.

Investor application will yet be evaluated and approved by the LIB prior to the issuance of a certificate of registration which spells out the fitting incentives.

Upon grant of registration, the applicant has to pay a processing fee amounting to P15,000.00 for small enterprises or P15,000.00 for big enterprises.

Apart from processed food, woven fabrics, novelty items on display and for sale in the Micro Small and Medium Entrepreneur Development Week event, also showcased were wedding paraphernalia and reception need. (SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)

There are conditions to comply with in order to avail of the incentives such as adherence to the implementing regulations and terms and conditions. The board has a visitorial power or an inspection and supervision powers to validate such that if it does not comply with the conditions, it would be a sufficient basis to revoke the issued registration.

But there are yet some relevant provisions that need to be incorporated to the code prior to its implementation. Olsim said the council is looking into the approval of the amended code within two months. One provision is synchronizing the new policy on ease of doing business timeframe.

To date there are a total of more or less 8,000 entrepreneurs in the municipality categorized as micro to medium.

In the 2018 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), the town placed 4th in economic dynamism and landed 18th in the overall most competitive municipality. The CMCI results serve as benchmark for government agencies and investors for budgeting or investing. (SCA-PIA-CAR, Benguet)

MAASIN CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- More than 3,000 crown-of-thorns (COTs), specie of starfish, were seen in the waters of Malitbog town alone according to Aileen Estrera, member of the province’s Sangguniang Panlalawigan, citing a recent survey conducted by the Southern Leyte State University (SLSU).

SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The institutions and individuals who displayed excellence in the performance and delivery of services for the Surigaonons received an award during the 30th Rotary Outstanding Surigaonon Awards (ROSA) ceremony held here recently.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Sept. 6 (PIA) -- Civil Service Commission (CSC) OIC-Regional Director Rosalinda Tanalaga-Oliva highlighted the significant changes in the Philippine Civil Service over the past century.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 12 (PIA) - - Ranking officials reiterated the government’s call for the active participation of all sectors of society in ensuring good governance, accountability and transparency programs and policies in bringing inclusive growth and progress to the country and to the people.

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- Two young professionals from this city are among the 27 youth leaders from across the country selected as Philippine Ambassadors of Goodwill for the 46th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Program (SSEAYP).

BAGUIO CITY, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - Accounting of water resources in the Cordillera Administrative Region(CAR) is set into motion with the Philippine Statistics Authority regional office (PSA) convening a joint meeting – workshop of the Task Force Water Resource Accounting and the Technical Working Group on Environment Statistics .

Benguet

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 12(PIA) -- The Department of Education – Cordillera has directed all public and private schools in the region to conduct activities to commemorate the 1986 Mount Data “Sipat” or Peace Accord every September 13.

ITOGON, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) -- The municipal government of Itogon will conduct rituals to commemorate the first year anniversary of the tragic landslide that hit the province of Benguet and this town at the height of typhoon Ompong last year.

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Sept. 13 (PIA) - - The Provincial Rabies Control Consultative Committee gathered various stakeholders for a consultative meeting to bolster programs and activities for the prevention, control and the ultimate eradication of rabies in the province.

Mt. Province

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 31(PIA) -- Sangguniang Kabataan(SK) members in the province celebrated the Linggo ng Kabataan with various activities actively participated by out-of-school youth, in-school youth and working youth of the different municipalities in the province.

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The House of Representatives approved on first reading a proposed bill seeking for the termination of the collection of toll fees along the portion of the Benguet road, popularly known as Kennon road, from Klondykes Spring to Camp 6, repealing for the purpose Executive Order No. 34, series of 1954 as amended.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, Aug. 6(PIA) -- To raise community awareness and to inculcate health and nutrition habits for children at an early age for healthy living, the provincial government conducted Healthy Mother and Child and cooking contests in celebration of this year’s Nutrition Month.

BONTOC, Mountain Province, July 22 (PIA) -- The Provincial Livelihood Program (PLP) of the Provincial Government here continues to provide livelihood assistance to qualified individuals in the province.

LAGAWE, Ifugao, Aug. 15 (PIA) - - In line with the goal to eliminate human rabies by the year 2020, the support of Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS) and Barangay Health Workers (BHWs) as frontline workers in the communities is being tapped.